When Apple Computer introduces its new line of Intel-based consumer notebooks this spring, the company may once again offer buyers a fashionable option it phased out of its iMac product line nearly half a decade ago: colored enclosures.

Like the Cupertino company's current PowerPC-based line of iBook G4 notebooks, the upcoming Intel "MacBooks" have been described by the few people who claim to have seen them as "fashionably clad in iMac white."

iMac white is the glossy shade Apple introduced on the face and under-compartment of its original iMac in 1998. Eventually, the popularity of the iMac amongst consumers drove the company to wrap almost all of its consumer products, including the iBook and iPod, in the same cleanly shade.

Still, some would argue that it wasn't the white, but the bondi blue risk Apple took with the remainder of the original iMac enclosure that paved the way for the iBook, iPod and one of the most astonishing comeback stories in corporate history.

When Apple chief executive Steve Jobs pulled the sheet from atop the original iMac on the afternoon of May 6th, 1998, many were expecting to see another beige box with sharp corners. Instead they were treaded to a bulbous, but friendly looking all-in-one Mac, wrapped in white and translucent blue plastics that forever changed the landscape of the personal computer industry.

While rival PC manufacturers struggled to duplicate the appeal of the bondi blue iMac in their own products -- albeit to little success -- Apple lead its colored iMac revolution through seven revisions and thirteen color variations, all the while selling millions of units.

Apple followed its inaugural bondi blue iMac early the next year with models dressed in flavorful hues called Strawberry, Lime, Grape, Blueberry and Tangerine. By mid-year it had also unveiled iBooks in the latter two flavors and subsequently tacked on a graphite colored iMac special edition later that autumn.

After introducing refreshed iMac models in 2000 bearing Ruby, Snow and Indigo-colored translucent plastics, the company became a bit daring with two additional models it wrapped in Flower Power and Blue Dalmatian patterns. It wasn't long thereafter that Apple dropped the patterned and colored iMacs altogether, redesigning the desktops around a a 15-inch flat panel display, white base and adjustable swing-arm in January of 2002.

Its been over four years since the company rolled a flamboyant Mac off its assembly lines, instead choosing to standardize on graphite- and aluminum-colored enclosures for its professional computers and white for its consumer models. However, with the recent success of its black-colored iPods, and to a greater extent its multi-colored iPod minis, there is talk that the company is once again "thinking differently" about the appearance of its upcoming MacBook consumer notebooks.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Apple was considering a black version of the yet-to-be-announced notebooks, which it will target towards education, entry- and mid-level customers. However, as development progressed without a black MacBook in sight, the company was believed to have discarded the notion.

To the delight of some insiders and likely the company's fans, just as word of the MacBook's competition began to spread, so did rumors that Apple continues to pursue the colored enclosure option.

People often familiar with the tight-lipped company's ambitions say current plans call for the Mac maker to introduce the MacBook in colors other than white. Apple has reportedly been guarding the colored models closer than the notebooks themselves, in area of its labs privy to only a select few of its elite, these people say. Therefore, it's unclear precisely what colors the company will ultimately approve for production and if it will indeed offer a black model like it does with its iPod and iPod nano digital players.

Still, the most reliable information appears to point to at least two colored MacBook models. Unlike the 90's when Apple jazzed up its iMacs in semi-translucent plastics, the colored MacBooks are more likely sport solid-shade, sleek enclosures similar to the company's professional MacBook Pro laptops. In fact, those people familiar with prototypes of the forthcoming notebooks say their overall design is reminiscent of the MacBook Pro, only "comfortably smaller."

In deciding to release multiple colors, Apple must weigh the risk-to-reward factor of managing an increasing number of retail SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) that comes with offering more than one color. However, since sources have reported that the notebooks will be standardized around a 13-inch widescreen display and Intel's Core Duo processors, it's likely the company plans only two distinct hardware configurations: a "better" and "best" model. As a result, offering two colorful models in addition to the standard white colored units would yield it the mere burden of managing just six SKUs -- a challenge Apple has met with little difficulty in the past.

"Given that these new MacBooks [will be]Â*targeted at volume markets including academic and consumer customers including women, colors are a great way to idenfify with customers and diffentiate in theÂ*PC market place," said one analyst who covers Apple, but asked not to be named.Â*"Apple has proven fairly adept at managing different colors in the pastÂ*given its track record with iPod mini, color iBooks, and color iMacs using different shades of plastic and composite aluminum."

Even if Apple calls a last minute audible and scraps its plans to launch the MacBook in a variety of colors, its intent to do so thus far indicates one thing: it intends for the notebooks to be a significantly high-volume product.

Indeed, a recent report from overseas stated that Apple has lined up three display manufacturers to simultaneously supply 13-inch widescreen LCD screens for the notebooks. One supplier, AU Optronics, is expected to provide between 40,000-50,000 displays a month, or approximately 150,000 per quarter. If Apple plans to tap each of the three suppliers equally, it could be setting it sights on sales of over 400,000 MacBooks each quarter.

According to the same report, Asustek has won the contract to produce the MacBooks for Apple in the Far East and has received an initial order of 1.2 million units from the Mac maker.

Originally posted by AppleInsiderHowever, since sources have reported that the notebooks will be standardized around a 13-inch widescreen display and Intel's Core Duo processors,

My biggest complaint with Apple's product selection is their tying together sizes, capacities, and processing power. Let's hope there's the option of the highest-end processor with the smallest screen, and vice-versa.

I'm confident that if they returned to using colored exteriors, they'd do it like most others wouldn't.

However, it's pretty hard to imagine the use of color without it looking horribly dated 2 weeks after the gadgets' introduction.

I look forward to eyeballing whatever they release, but until then, I'm still smitten with my 12" Powerbook. I think this form will still look appealing 5 years from now, because of how minimalistic and well-designed it is.

I could see strong colors that look really rich with the clear polycarbonate over the paint. Playful, but strong. Then again, my imagination is always much keener and more interesting than the actual thing I'm thinking of!

Originally posted by Naraa HarasDoesn't Apple have a patent for a case design that can change color? That was rumored to be part of a future iMac (now past), but I wonder if the iBook could have a feature like that...

I think the patent you're talking about is for light to be shined under the plastic to make it glow different colours. Apparently (this was way before I was a Mac user) everyone thought Apple was going to roll out glowing computers but it ended up just being the on/off/sleep light under the plastic on iMacs and laptops.

I don't think the colours will look dated or "1999esq". This is going to be done differently. The old iMacs were coloured and translucent and the plastic was slighty frosted. The Macbooks will be glossy with solid colours. It will look dated in a few years when there are new trends in design but I think it will look good while it's "in style".

This will be a huge boost for Apple. People love the minimalist look of the iBooks but I have heard people complain about them only coming in white. There are many people who buy based on look alone and now that people can run windows, this will be an awesome looking computer with a superior OS without the risk (not being able to run programs that are Windows only).

Originally posted by ecking
Look at the names MacBook and MacBook Pro are that simliar for a reason, they're sister systems and will probably sport similar designs only being separated by specs and MacBook being plastic.

I think Apple left coloured computing was for inventory reasons. What if you have made a great computer and made millions of each of three colours before the introduction, if Graphite and Snow are flying of the shelves but one million flower powers are sitting there forever?

"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush

A 13.3-inch model wouldn't have as much (if any) space to the sides of the keyboard. I also don't see ExpressCard appearing on the MacBook, although that would certainly be a welcome surprise. I like the strong black on the outside, but the glossy black on the inside could be too distracting.

Hmm.. What's "fashionable"? Heh. Only Apple knows. Yes, for those that have seen my mockup before, it's a blatant re-post. But feel free to comment.

Chucker: "I like the strong black on the outside, but the glossy black on the inside could be too distracting."
Interesting point... There are a hell of a lot of black-on-the-inside Toshibas and Acers... I wonder what they are like.

Back in the day, certain iMac configurations were limtited by color. The low-end model came in Sage, Ruby, and Indigo whereas the high-end model came in Graphite, Snow, and Indigo. While I don't think Apple really wants to offer this many stock models, this type of stratification can help keep the total number of units down and tailor towards different market segments.

And who is to say that with modern BTO we couldn't permit any color case with any specs inside? You can already customize a mini with a core solo or duo, and I don't see that changing when the MacBooks ship.